How Marc Daigneault Rejected Lou Dort’s Bench Idea Without Saying It

Oklahoma. and home – Oklahoma City Thunder guard Lou Dort entered Monday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies shooting 29.8 percent from deep while averaging 6.3 points in December, but coach Mark Daigneault he wasn’t worried. While some wondered whether Cason Wallace should start permanently over DortDaigneault dismissed the idea without elaborating after a 119-103 win over the Thunder the Grizzlies.

In his comeback performance for the Thunder, Dort scored 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting, including 3-for-6 from deep, four rebounds, three steals and three blocks. After the win, Daigneault addressed Dort’s impressive reversal game when a reporter asked if he had previously spoken to Luo.

“I haven’t had any conversations with Lou. That’s how much I believe in Lou — his competitiveness — I’ve seen him go through so many ups and downs over the last six years, and how he reacts to it,” Daigneault said. “He’s so consistent as a competitor. He always puts in the work and he’s got incredible confidence. So he maintains a high level of confidence in all circumstances. I have a lot of faith in betting. So I haven’t talked to him.”

Without Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren — both suspended — against the Grizzlies, Branden Carlson earned his first career start, while Dort and Wallace got the nod in Thunder head coach Mark Deino’s box. However, once Oklahoma City returns to full strength, it’s safe to say that Dort will resume his role as the Thunder’s starting point guard in the backcourt, alongside All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

How Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stunned the Thunder’s Lou Dort

Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander took Lou Dort’s breath away in the fourth quarter of Monday’s win against the Grizzlies. Gilgeous-Alexander’s off-the-board pass to himself to assist Branden Carlson for a corner 3 was the Thunder’s fourth-quarter dagger before a 16-point victory, the Thunder’s 26th win of the season.

After the game, a reporter asked Dort if he had ever seen Gilgeous-Alexander pull off a move like that before.

“That was the first time I’ve ever seen him do that. I was actually shocked,” Dort said. “I wasn’t expecting it. I was wondering what was going to happen next because I knew he wasn’t going to go and dunk. But it was a great pass and BC (Branden Carlson) made a big shot.”

The Thunder improved their home record to 14-0 and will play the Spurs for the second night of back-to-back games on Tuesday.